Did you know that Barbados is the only country that George Washington ever visited? The George Washington House is the only house outside the U.S.A where he resided.
George Washington accompanied his ailing brother Lawrence, who was seeking a cure in the balmy tropical air for his tuberculosis.
George's sojourn in Barbados made a lasting impression on the 19-year old man. When his ship the "Success" sailed into Carlisle Bay on November 2nd, 1751 and he first saw the capital, Bridgetown, George Washington looked upon the biggest city in the English-speaking world outside Britain.
Due to the great boom of Barbados' sugar economy and its geographical position, Bridgetown was one of the three most important commercial centres in the Atlantic, the other two being London and Boston. He had never seen anything close to it in Virginia.
Built around 1715, Bush Hill House (otherwise known as George Washington House) is one of the oldest houses on the island. As George tells us in his Diary, the brothers rented it for £15 a month, which George found exorbitant. But the spacious rooms and the stunning sea views over Carlisle Bay made up for the price.
Today the handsome Georgian-style two-storey house has been beautifully restored, and furnished as a typical plantation residence of the mid-18th century, as it might have looked during the brother's residence.
Mahogany, oak and cherry-wood antiques, plain pine floors, Royal cream ware china, wooden wall sconces, Turkish carpets and canopied mosquito-netted beds beautifully re-create the breezy, tropical atmosphere of the period.
The Museum, installed on the upper floor of the house, is one of the most important features of the site.
It focuses on the story of the rich cultural heritage of the island in the 17th and 18th centuries, a time when Barbados was one of the wealthiest countries in the hemisphere, when the Barbados Adventurers set off and colonised North and South Carolina, and when the British expanded the shameful practice of African slavery that dominated plantation life in the Caribbean and the southern USA.
The Museum also tells the story of the British Garrison after the Washington's visit.
A newly built Admission and Visitor's Centre houses a video theatre, were visitors view an award-winning video George Washington in Barbados. (available for sale on our website).
On the beautifully landscaped grounds, the 18th century bathhouse has been restored, and the charming 18th century stables restored and adapted to house the Gift Shop.
Next door is the "Cool Dreams Café" where lunches and refreshments are available. An outdoor performance area is used for concerts and evening events. A beautiful wedding arbour is available for marriage ceremonies, and the gardens alone are well worth a visit.
Admission is BDS $25.00 with reductions for BARP and National Trust Members, half price for children between the ages of 5 years and 12 years, and reduced rates for groups of nine and over.
For further details and information please call (246) 228-5461, visit our Website at or e-mail us by using the form below.
George Washington Was Here, Shouldn't You Be Too?
Admission rates:
Adults $25.00 BDS
Children over 11 $12.50
BARP members 15.00
National Trust members $15.00
Groups of 9 or more $18.00
George Washington House,
Bush Hill, the Garrison,
St. Michael, BB14038,
Barbados
http://www.georgewashingtonbarbados.org
Call (246) 228-5461
Located in St. Michael, South-West coast
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